Canceling and stamping device.



w. LAFLEB. CANCELING AND'STAMPING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED AUG.28, 1915.

1,179,193. I Patented Ap1-.11,1916.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0., WASHINGTON, D. c.

nn'rr srArns PATENT onnn;

WILLIAM LAFLER, OF LAKE GEORGE, MICHIGAN.

'CANCELING AND STAMPING DEV ICE.

Application filed August 28, 1915. SerialNo. 17,860.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, l/VILLIAM LAFLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lake George, in the county of Clare and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Canceling and Stamping Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved canceling and stamping machine, designed for use in canceling postage stamps upon mail matter and simultaneously aflixing a dating stamp thereto if desired, or for stamping or printing other matter, the object of the invention beingto provide a simple, reliable and efficient construction of canceling, stamping or printing device which may be cheaply manufactured and sold and by means of which a large amount of matter may be printed or stamped within a given period.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts herein fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of the device showing the parts in inking position. Fig.

2 is a similar view showing the parts in printing or stamping position. Figs. 3 and 4 are side elevations of the device showing the parts in the respective positions illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring to the drawing, 1 designates a baseboard or plate, from which rises a supporting bracket comprising a standard 2 and a back plate or rear upright 3. A head 4 is supported by the back plate 3 and provided with upper and lower forwardly projecting bearing members 5 provided with angular bearing openings for the passage of a reciprocating die carrying rod or stem 6 carrying at its lower end a printing or stamping die 7. This die is movable throughthe reciprocations of the stem 6, moving to and fro from the underlying surface of the base 1, which latter forms a support for the mail matter or. other matter which is to be printed or stamped. Secured to the plate 1 are gage pieces or abutments 8 and 9, arranged at right angles to each other, against which the end and side edges of an envelop or other piece of mail matter to bepost-marked are broughtto properly dispose the portions of the mail matter to be printed or stamped in position relative to the die 7. It will of course be understood that the die may be provided with type matter of any preferred kind, such as a post-marking or dating stamp, and stamp canceling or other marks, or that the printing form or face of the die Specification of Letters Patent. Pathfed Apr. 11, 1916. i I

may bear any suitable type matter to be printed or stamped;

The means for reciprocating the die comprises a connecting rod 9 which is coupled to wrist pins 10 and 11 carried respectively by the reciprocating die stem and a combined crank and balance wheel 12, which latter is adapted when rotated to reciprocate the die and is also properly weighted to serve the function of a balance or fly wheel, whereby ease of reciprocating motion of the die is secured. The wheel 12 is mounted upon a shaft 13 journaled upon the standard 2 and which may be provided with a hand crank 14 for manual operation or a pulley 15 whereby the shaft may be driven from any suitable source of power. It will be evident that when the shaft is rotated the connecting rod will convert the rotary motion thereof into rectilinear motion to reciprocate the die.

I provide means for inking the die, which comprises an inking pad 16 carried by a holder 17. This holder is hinged or pivoted, as at 18, to a strip 19 on the standard 2 so as to swing in a vertical plane into and out of the path of movement of the die. A rod 20 connects this holder with a pin or stud 21 on the reciprocating stem 6, said rod being pivoted to the holder at one end, as indicated at 22, and provided at its other end with a slot or loop 23 receiving and engaging the pin 21, thus forming a lost-motion or slip joint connection between the rod and stem whereby an interval of independent motion of the die is afforded on each cycle of action thereof, to adapt the die to move into and out of printing position during a portion of the cycle thereof, the die and inking device being in contact during the remainder of the cycle of motion of the die,

whereby an efficient inking of the die face is insured.

From the foregoing description, taken in 'connection with the drawings, the construcstruction, capable of being manufactured and sold at a comparatively low cost, and adapted to be easily, conveniently and rapidly used for the canceling, printing or stamping operations, allowing a large number of pieces of mail matter or other matter to be acted upon within a given amount of time. The device will be found of especial advantage to postmasters of the lower class postoflices, in providing a canceling or stamping device which may be procured at a small cost and operated with convenience and rapidity by means of hand, foot or other power.

I claim 1. A device of the character described comprising a support including a base, a vertically reciprocating die, cranking mechanism for reciprocating the die, an inking pad pivotally supported so as to swing in a direction laterally of the die and vertically toward and from the die face, a stud upon the die, and a rod pivoted at one end to the inking device and having a slotted or looped end receiving and slidably and pivotally engaging said pin or stud.

2. A device of the character described comprising a base, a bracket rising from the base, a reciprocating die supported by the bracket crank mechanism for reciprocating the die, an inking pad pivotally supported so as to swing in a direction laterally of the die and vertically toward and from the die face, a stud upon the die, and a rod pivoted at one end to the inking device and having a slotted or looped opposite end receiving i and slidably and pivotally engaging said pin or stud.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WM. LAFLER.

lVitnesses VIRA LUOE, VVJLLIAM H. BEAM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

